William Link

William Theodore Link (December 15, 1933 – December 27, 2020) was an American film and television screenwriter and producer who often worked in collaboration with Richard Levinson.

Biography Early life Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, William Link was the son of Elsie (née Roerecke) and William Theodore Link, a textile broker. His mother had German Huguenot heritage. Link discovered late in life that his father's parents were Jewish. Link's niece, Amy, examined a suitcase William Theodore had left to his son, which they had kept in their attic. She opened it in 2011 and it turned out to contain genealogical research and evidence done by William Theodore during World War II. Amy had discovered that Link's paternal grandparents were Jewish. Link earned a degree from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business prior to serving in the United States Army from 1956 to 1958.

Levinson partnership

William Link and Richard Levinson met on their first day of junior high school. Each had enjoyed doing magic tricks and other students repeatedly mentioned to each of them that they should meet. They began writing together soon after. In high school, they created radio scripts. While studying at the University of Pennsylvania, they wrote film criticism for the college newspapers. Some of their short stories were published in Playboy. The character of Columbo was first introduced by Link and Levinson in a 1960 episode of The Chevy Mystery Show. For the Jessica Fletcher character they created in 1983 when CBS contacted them to create a new mystery TV show, they found inspiration in a mix of Agatha Christie and her Miss Marple character. At first, they wanted Jean Stapleton for the role, but she ended up declining the offer. and on Columbo when they came up with stories to be scripted by their collaborators.

They co-wrote the Broadway musical magic show Merlin starring Doug Henning and co-scripted the film The Execution of Private Slovik.

Accolades and honors Link received the following awards and nominations jointly with Levinson :

Year Association Category Work Result 1966 Edgar Awards Best Episode in a TV Series Honey West: "The Gray Lady" 1970 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Dramatic Program My Sweet Charlie Outstanding Writing Achievement in Drama 1972 Outstanding Drama Series Columbo Outstanding New Series Outstanding Writing Achievement in Drama Columbo: "Death Lends a Hand" 1973 Outstanding Single Program - Drama or Comedy That Certain Summer Outstanding Writing Achievement in Drama - Original Teleplay Writers Guild of America Awards Episodic Drama Columbo: "Étude in Black" 1974 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Special - Comedy or Drama The Execution of Private Slovik Best Writing in Drama - Adaptation 1978 Outstanding Writing in a Special Program - Drama or Comedy - Original Teleplay The Storyteller 1980 Edgar Awards Best Television Feature or Miniseries Murder by Natural Causes 1983 Rehearsal for Murder 1985 CableACE Award Movie or Miniseries The Guardian Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Drama Series Murder, She Wrote 1986 Edgar Awards Best Television Feature or Miniseries Guilty Conscience Writers Guild of America Awards Laurel Award for TV Writing Achievement

The following awards were granted only to Link: Year Association Category Work Result 1999 Producers Guild of America Awards PGA Hall of Fame – Television Programs That Certain Summer

Other awards and recognition 2002: Named president of the Mystery Writers of America (one of the few television writers to achieve this honor. 2018: Edgar Allan Poe Grand Master Award

Eponyms

The William Link Theatre on the campus of California State University, Long Beach, is named after Link in honor of his work and donation of plays.

Published works